Digestive health depends on a balance of enzymes like pepsin and beneficial bacteria. Understanding lactose intolerance and how pH affects digestion can help alleviate common issues like bloating, fatigue after eating, and chest discomfort.
Gas and diarrhea can happen for several reasons, but if you've made a change in your diet, the symptoms are likely due to a specific food you've added. Common culprits include milk products and fiber, which cause the same symptoms but for different reasons.
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Yogurt is one of the simplest, tastiest digestive aids you can add to your diet, but not all yogurts are created equal. With so many yogurt brands and products on the market, the choices go far beyond blueberry or strawberry.
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Your stool can change color for a variety of reasons: from certain medications to medical conditions. Food can also change the color of your stool. While the color of your stool can vary, certain colors can indicate a potentially serious problem. Consult your physician if the color of your stool worries you.
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"Pureed" is a general term referring to food, usually cooked vegetables or raw fruit, that has been blended, processed or mashed so it has the consistency of a thick liquid. Common examples include mashed potatoes, applesauce and guacamole.
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Before food is even in sight, the brain prepares the body for digestion. The mere thought of food can trigger a release of chemicals in the stomach. The process of digestion then continues in the mouth, proceeding on into the stomach and then ending in the intestines.
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Adult acne can be just as embarrassing as teen acne, and the cause of acne at any age is generally the same. Adults can get acne all the way into their 50s and there are different types of adult acne, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. The type of treatment method depends on the type of acne.
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The short answer is yes -- your stomach can digest food within hours. Unless you have a condition such as a nervous disorder or complications from stomach surgery, then food tends to move through the stomach in around two hours.
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At first glance, there may seem to be no connection between thyroid disease and lactose intolerance. Thyroid disease is an immune system disorder; the body mistakenly recognizes a gland or tissue such as the thyroid as an “enemy” and attacks, either destroying the gland or causing it to malfunction.
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Apple cider vinegar has long been touted as a natural remedy for digestive issues. Despite an abundance of anecdotal and historical evidence, no formal research has actually been conducted to evaluate its effectiveness in treating constipation. Therefore, no conclusive dosage can be recommended.
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The proteins casein and gluten are two of the top allergens found in the American diet, the former being found in dairy products and the latter in many grains. Some digestive enzyme supplements containing the enzyme DPP-IV, or dipeptidyl peptidase-4, can facilitate the breakdown of these offending proteins.
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Malabsorption is the medical term for not digesting and absorbing your food properly. Many types of medical conditions can lead to malabsorption, which typically comes to light when you experience signs and symptoms. Your digestive system is the primary site for many of the signs and symptoms of malabsorption.
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Nighttime acid reflux can bring on symptoms of coughing, snoring and burning pain that can disrupt sleep and have a strong negative impact on quality of life.
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The process of digestion begins in your mouth. The salivary glands start to function as soon as you take the first bite of food. There are three large salivary glands and numerous smaller ones located in your mouth and throat. The larger salivary glands occur in pairs and are located on either side of your mouth.
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If you’ve been diagnosed with lactose intolerance, you can still enjoy pizza, although it contains lactose from the cheese. Cheeses tend to have less lactose than other dairy products because of the enzymes used to create cheese.
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Pineapple is a tropical fruit grown in warm climates and has a flavor that is both sweet and tart. Enjoying a serving of pineapple helps improve digestion by providing fiber and a certain type of digestive enzyme.
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Your digestive system runs on a delicate balance, processing nutrients out of the foods you eat and making stool that is neither too hard nor too soft so you do not get constipation or diarrhea.
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Although the subject of bathroom behaviors is generally avoided, a quick peek in the toilet can clue you into the health of your body. Although it may seem odd, studying the shape, color and smell of stool can help you monitor your digestive health.
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Enzymes are substances found in all living cells. They act as catalysts in chemical processes, such as metabolism, and are part of the breakdown and regenerative process of life. Plant foods, for example, contain enzymes which are needed to break down that specific plant.
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Digestive enzymes are important for a variety of functions of your body and are best known for their role in breaking down the foods in nutrients that can be easily absorbed in the bloodstream and further used by your body.
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The human digestive tract functions to break down food particles into smaller molecules the body can absorb through the lining of the small intestines.
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